# I'd rather be dipped in acid before I buy a car from Ford West (mild) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 8, 2005, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-rather-be-dipped-in-acid-before-i-buy-a-car-from-ford-west-mild/288956 "2005-02-08T06:56:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-rather-be-dipped-in-acid-before-i-buy-a-car-from-ford-west-mild/288956/21 "2005-02-08T20:27:49Z")
> [@Dead Badger](#): > > You’d think if someone wanted to complain about people arrogantly displaying their beliefs, he wouldn’t have “just say **no** to religion” bumper stickers on his website. You’d _think_ that, but you’d be wrong. And I thought that a person’s home page and a hundred-foot-tall-visible-from-a-mile-away electric sign were two _vastly_ different things. ---
**Author:** ![Flyhalf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ea5d25/32.png) [@Flyhalf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyhalf)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-rather-be-dipped-in-acid-before-i-buy-a-car-from-ford-west-mild/288956/22 "2005-02-08T20:51:51Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > Can’t we deport these idiots to the deep South, where they’d be right at home? While I don’t disagree with your post, I do take exception to the above statement. In other words, Fuck you! ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-rather-be-dipped-in-acid-before-i-buy-a-car-from-ford-west-mild/288956/23 "2005-02-08T23:27:47Z")
I know I’m not the only one who feels that when someone starts God-talking me, it’s time to make sure the clasp is closed on my purse. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-rather-be-dipped-in-acid-before-i-buy-a-car-from-ford-west-mild/288956/24 "2005-02-08T23:30:19Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Not to worry… they probably don’t sell any of those tiny two-seater cars that run on compost and sunpower, and have “Nader 2008” pre-embossed on the bumper, so no harm done. Bah. Until they have cars powered by my own sense of smug self-satisfaction, I’m not buying. 😃 Anyway, the dealership is annoying and probably unethical, too. But the auto industry is one of the best places to find hucksters, thieves, and crooks of all kinds. ---
**Author:** ![Jeeves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@Jeeves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeeves)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2005, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-rather-be-dipped-in-acid-before-i-buy-a-car-from-ford-west-mild/288956/25 "2005-02-09T00:21:41Z")
Hey, I take offense to that. As someone who used to do nationwide tech support for the car dealers of a particular manufacturer, who dealt only with hucksters, theives, and crooks of the highest quality, and while we would hire HT&C of all kinds, our vigourous training procedures turned them into HT&C of only one kind, those that sell cars. The HT&C’s that did not cut it went into mattress sales. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2005, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-rather-be-dipped-in-acid-before-i-buy-a-car-from-ford-west-mild/288956/26 "2005-02-09T02:32:35Z")
> [@](#): > > Yeah, 'cause everybody who doesn’t agree that only Christian values are moral is a tree-hugging liberal. > > What was that about jumping to conclusions again? Dude, this is **rjung** we’re talking about here. If it’s liberal or if it’s about Macs, I guarantee that he’ll be there. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2005, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-rather-be-dipped-in-acid-before-i-buy-a-car-from-ford-west-mild/288956/27 "2005-02-09T03:29:19Z")
Hey, if they were really Christian they’d be giving the cars away to the poor folk, or, considering we’re talking about Fords here, steering them to another dealership that sells something more reliable. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2005, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-rather-be-dipped-in-acid-before-i-buy-a-car-from-ford-west-mild/288956/28 "2005-02-09T07:31:16Z")
> [@SPOOFE](#): > > Dude, this is **rjung** we’re talking about here. If it’s liberal or if it’s about Macs, I guarantee that he’ll be there. 😃 Don’t forget Pixar! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2005, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-rather-be-dipped-in-acid-before-i-buy-a-car-from-ford-west-mild/288956/29 "2005-02-09T10:21:04Z")
Why am I thinking about the scam artist who asked me to lend her about 30 bucsk to catch a cab to the other side of Oahu saying I could trust her because she was a Christian? I knew she was scamming because of two things: one, she wouldn’t take bus fare and directions; two, she tried the exact same scam on me a month later. Surely this calls for a one-line reply sent by mail or e-mail? If I felt it was worth it, I’d probably write something like this: > [@](#): > > Gentlemen: > > I saw your ad from the freeway and yes, I would like to deal with people who have a higher moral standard, which is why I will not be doing business with you. See [Matthew 6:5](http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=47&chapter=6&verse=5&version=31&context=verse) For those of you not interested in following the link, here’s the text of that verse. Jesus is speaking. > [@](#): > > And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. It seems particularly apropos in this situation. CJ ---
**Author:** ![beergeek279](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@beergeek279](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beergeek279)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2005, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-rather-be-dipped-in-acid-before-i-buy-a-car-from-ford-west-mild/288956/30 "2005-02-09T22:23:07Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > Anyway, the dealership is annoying and probably unethical, too. But the auto industry is one of the best places to find hucksters, thieves, and crooks of all kinds. So is the religion industry, so I’d say it’s a pretty nice synergy there! ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2005, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-rather-be-dipped-in-acid-before-i-buy-a-car-from-ford-west-mild/288956/31 "2005-02-10T01:44:42Z")
> [@Brutus](#): > > Once again, the board lefties are proudly displaying their bigotry. Nice. So is it, or is it not, the case that a car dealership in the deep south would be MORE LIKELY than one in California to be obnoxiously religious in its advertising? I’m honestly curious, here, having never been to the deep south (well, Orlando once, and some beach town in South Carolina for spring break once). ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2005, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-rather-be-dipped-in-acid-before-i-buy-a-car-from-ford-west-mild/288956/32 "2005-02-10T12:53:04Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > So is it, or is it not, the case that a car dealership in the deep south would be MORE LIKELY than one in California to be obnoxiously religious in its advertising?.. Well now! That is a most interesting approach for someone like you to take. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2005, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-rather-be-dipped-in-acid-before-i-buy-a-car-from-ford-west-mild/288956/33 "2005-02-10T13:35:48Z")
I’m still wondering about the professed shock over this sign. Hasn’t southern California been known for eons as a repository for fundamentalists and flaming hard-right loons? I mean, Aimee Semple McPherson, Orange County and all. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-rather-be-dipped-in-acid-before-i-buy-a-car-from-ford-west-mild/288956/34 "2005-02-12T02:30:27Z")
> [@Brutus](#): > > Well now! That is a most interesting approach for someone like you to take. Ummmm. Thanks. So, care to answer my question? (And what is “someone like me”, precisely? Video game programmers? People with usernames beginning with “max”? (There are a lot of us.) People who play racquetball?) ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-rather-be-dipped-in-acid-before-i-buy-a-car-from-ford-west-mild/288956/35 "2005-02-12T07:06:01Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > So, care to answer my question? No. You want to justify bigotry and prejudice, do it on your own. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-rather-be-dipped-in-acid-before-i-buy-a-car-from-ford-west-mild/288956/36 "2005-02-12T19:33:55Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I’m still wondering about the professed shock over this sign. Hasn’t southern California been known for eons as a repository for fundamentalists and flaming hard-right loons? Only in Orange County, which is why the rest of the region shuns them. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-rather-be-dipped-in-acid-before-i-buy-a-car-from-ford-west-mild/288956/37 "2005-02-12T20:27:17Z")
This car dealer is not actually trying to proseltyze (although these signs may have the ununtended consequence of driving away customers), they are trying to play Christians for suckers and it’s Christians who ought to be the most pissed about that. It’s a used car dealership. They pander. That’s what they do. The Jesus fish is simply a tactic to lure in stupid fundies (in their view) by congratulating them on their high moral standards. It’s Christians who should really be offended by this kind of thing because it’s such a transparent attempt to ingratiate themselves to Christians simply as a means to get their money. Car dealers have done the same thing since time immemorial with gigantic American flags and patriotic images. They’re trying to wrap themselves in images and associations that the customers will _trust_ and that not only demeans the customers but the images themselves. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-rather-be-dipped-in-acid-before-i-buy-a-car-from-ford-west-mild/288956/38 "2005-02-12T21:43:24Z")
> [@Brutus](#): > > No. You want to justify bigotry and prejudice, do it on your own. Except that if it’s justified, is it still bigotry and prejudice? The statement made was “Can’t we deport these idiots to the deep South, where they’d be right at home?” I’m certainly under the impression that it’s far more common in the south for (a) everyone to be Christian, and (b) Christianity to be more in the public sphere (comparing to California). Now, that’s not necessarily a Bad Thing. And if it’s true, then that sort of car dealership promotion would, in fact, be more at home. On the other hand, my impression of the south may be wrong. I’m honestly curious. Thanks for your help in fighting ignornace, there, bub. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-rather-be-dipped-in-acid-before-i-buy-a-car-from-ford-west-mild/288956/39 "2005-02-13T10:10:42Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > This car dealer is not actually trying to proseltyze (although these signs may have the ununtended consequence of driving away customers), they are trying to play Christians for suckers and it’s Christians who ought to be the most pissed about that. > > It’s a used car dealership. They pander. That’s what they do. The Jesus fish is simply a tactic to lure in stupid fundies (in their view) by congratulating them on their high moral standards. It’s Christians who should really be offended by this kind of thing because it’s such a transparent attempt to ingratiate themselves to Christians simply as a means to get their money. Car dealers have done the same thing since time immemorial with gigantic American flags and patriotic images. They’re trying to wrap themselves in images and associations that the customers will _trust_ and that not only demeans the customers but the images themselves. I could have sworn I was pissed off. Then again, I’m still proud of having helped get televangelist Robert Tilton off the air in Hawaii back in the 1990s. Just shows you what kind of a Christian I am. CJ ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-rather-be-dipped-in-acid-before-i-buy-a-car-from-ford-west-mild/288956/40 "2005-02-14T02:05:43Z")
> [@Siege](#): > > I could have sworn I was pissed off. Then again, I’m still proud of having helped get televangelist Robert Tilton off the air in Hawaii back in the 1990s. Just shows you what kind of a Christian I am. > > CJ Really? How’d you manage that? (And who is Tilton? Details, _por favor_!) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-rather-be-dipped-in-acid-before-i-buy-a-car-from-ford-west-mild/288956.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-rather-be-dipped-in-acid-before-i-buy-a-car-from-ford-west-mild/288956.md?page=3)